US contributes $294,500 for law efforts

The United States government has contributed US $294,500 to the government of Ghana to help in law enforcement efforts in the country, a press release from the US embassy in Ghana said. US Ambassador to Ghana, Nancy Powell, signed the letter of agreement with Ghana's Interior Minister, Malik Yakubu, on Monday.

According to the release, the funds will be used to help establish a community policing programme and to improve the counter-narcotics operations capability at the Kotoka International Airport, in the capital Accra.

"Airport security has become very important in the wake of September 11 attacks [in the US] and the Accra airport's growing use as a transit hub," it added.

The fund would also provide equipment to the Women and Juvenile Police Unit (WAJU) to enhance the unit's investigative effectiveness in cases of domestic violence. Ghana News Agency (GNA) reported Powell as saying that US $101,000 would be used to establish a community-policing programme. She said US $160,000 would be for counter-narcotics operations and general security around the Kotoka Airport, while US $33,500 would go to the women and juvenile unit, GNA said.

The grant was funded by the US Department's International Narcortics and Law Enforcement Programme (INL) whose programmes provide millions of dollars in training and equipment support each year to law enforcement agencies around the world, US embassy release said. INL programmes are focused on combating narcotics trafficking and violence against women and children.